Gina Hecht (; born December 6, 1953) is an American actress.
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Early life
Born in Houston, Texas on December 6, 1953, Hecht is the daughter of stage actress Pauline Meyer Hecht and stockbroker Harold Hecht. An alumnus of North Carolina School of the Arts, Hecht had already made up her mind to become an actress at age 10, the moment she first saw her mother onstage. She attended Oran M. Roberts Elementary School, Pershing Junior High, Bellaire High, and Monticello College, before obtaining her degree from North Carolina.
Career
Hecht's big break came in the fall of 1978 with a recurring role in the NBC sitcom Hizzoner; the following season she was hired for the role of Jeanie DaVinci on the successful TV series Mork & Mindy. Her first film role was in the 1982 Ron Howard movie Night Shift, alongside Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton.
In addition to a career on TV and in films, she has also worked the stage. In 2011, she appeared in Neil Simon's The Prisoner of Second Avenue alongside Jason Alexander. Hecht had a recurring role on General Hospital as Judge Rachel Lasser from 2015 to 2019.
Personal life
In 1988, she married writer and actor Brian Herskowitz. She has a sister, Esther, and a brother, Harold.
Filmography
Television
1979–1981: Mork & Mindy as Jeanie DaVinci
1979: Hizzonner as Melanie
1981: The Love Boat as Norma Kittredge
1987: Everything's Relative as Emily Cabot
1988: HeartBeat as Patty
1989: Baywatch: "Panic at Malibu Pier" as Gina Pomeroy
1990: Star Trek: The Next Generation: "A Matter of Perspective" as Manua Apgar
1992: Taking Back My Life: The Nancy Ziegenmeyer Story as Deanne
1992–1993: Seinfeld: "The Pick", "The Shoes", "The Pilot" as Dana Foley
1994: Without Warning as Barbara Shiller
1995: Blossom: "You Say Tomato" as Teacher
1995: Diagnosis: Murder: "Murder in the Courthouse" as Justine Brady
1997: Friends as Richard's Date
2000: Diagnosis: Murder: "Swan Song" as Rhonda
2001: Jag Past Tense as Jane Maples
2005: Pizza My Heart as Gloria Montebello
2006: Dexter as Mrs. Tucci
2009: Desperate Housewives: "The Coffee Cup" as Judge Mary Gallagher
2009–2012: Glee: "Mash-Up", "Goodbye", "Glee, Actually" as Mrs. Puckerman
Film
1982: Night Shift as Charlotte Koogle
1985: St. Elmo's Fire as Judith
1986: Hyper Sapien: People from Another Star as Newscaster
1987: Unfinished Business as Vickie
1993: Family Prayers as Arlene
1995: One Night Stand as Cy Watson
1998: Can I Play? as Nancy
1999: EDtv as Party Girl
2001: Odessa or Bust as God
2002: Clockstoppers as Meter Maid
2008: Seven Pounds as Dr. Briar
2008: The Last Word as Hilde Morris
2017: Fight Your Way Out as Jane Stone